It's time for another Free Rein Friday – your bonus dose of Pippa and Tristan! ❤️

This week, the conversation turns to training outside the saddle, gym rivalries and why Tristan has sworn off Reformer Pilates after one unforgettable session.

Plus we're answering more of your questions! And if you have one for Pippa and Tristan please drop us a line on [email protected]

🎧 New full episodes of Talk Horse every Wednesday, with Free Rein Fridays bringing you extra laughs and behind-the-scenes conversations every Friday.

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One of our most requested guests joins us this week, as eventing royalty Mary King sits down with Pippa and Tristan in the studio.

After an extraordinary 46 seasons at the top of the sport, Mary recently announced her retirement. She looks back on six Olympic Games, 13 championship medals and unforgettable victories at Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky.

From a completely unhorsey background to the very top of her game, Mary never took the easy route. She reflects on competing while pregnant, returning after serious injury, producing a homebred five-star winner and supporting her daughter Emily’s own career.

This is the remarkable story of one of eventing’s most admired and enduring stars. We’ll definitely need to get her back. 

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Your new Friday tradition starts now! What better way to get you in the mood for a weekend of galloping, trotting and mucking out than Free Rein Fridays? Join Pippa and Tristan as they chew the fat, discuss the latest gossip and dole out their advice. It’s your chance to hear Pippa’s wisdom, Tristan’s jokes and get your burning questions answered. Email us on [email protected] or drop us a line on social media. The Talk Horse Podcast just got a weekend upgrade.

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This week we welcome the multitalented Ashleigh, or Ash, Wallace to the podcast. Her career spans over 20 years in elite sport, supporting athletes across seven Olympic cycles, and boy does she have some fabulous wisdom to impart. Whether you're an elite rider, a weekend trotter or anyone wanting to improve your health this is the episode for you!

From representing South Africa in hockey to becoming an internationally renowned physiotherapist and, crucially for Talk Horse, former Head of Human Sports Science and Medicine at British Equestrian. She shares her unique perspective on why managing health is a complex problem that requires "collective wisdom" and interdependent teams. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join our Talk Horse community!

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How do you build an Olympic showjumping team from the ground up?

In this episode of Talk Horse, Pippa Funnell is joined by UAE Olympians Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzouqi and Abdulla Mohd Al-Marri to discuss the incredible rise of showjumping in the United Arab Emirates.

They reflect on their journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, training under William Funnell, the horses that helped them reach the sport's biggest stage, and the ambition driving UAE equestrian sport forward.

The conversation also explores the importance of strong foundations, developing young riders, balancing elite competition with family life, and why representing your country is about far more than results.

It's an inspiring insight into one of the fastest-growing nations in international showjumping - and the people leading the charge.

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In this Talk Horse mini episode recorded at Pippa's home and training facility in Surrey, Yoshiaki Oiwa (Yoshi) joins us to tell the story behind one of the most historic moments in Japanese horse sport.

At Paris 2024, Yoshi helped Japan claim team eventing bronze, the country’s first Olympic equestrian medal in 92 years, while also finishing seventh individually. And he did it riding a horse Pippa knows better than most: MGH Grafton Street, her 2019 Burghley winner.

Yoshi opens up about the road to Paris, the pressure of riding for Japan, taking on a proven five-star star, and what that medal meant back home.

Plus, Pippa and Yoshi reflect on their shared connection to “Squirrel”, the highs and setbacks of a career at the top of eventing, and the extraordinary journey that took horse and rider to the podium at Versailles.

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If you've not listened to Part one of our extraordinary conversation between Mark Todd, Pippa and Tristan - go back and listen now.

Today we dive deeper into the extraordinary career and legacy of one of eventing’s greatest ever riders. After stepping away from elite competition for eight years, Sir Mark returned to the sport and somehow found himself straight back on the Olympic stage - a remarkable comeback that perfectly captures the determination and resilience that defined his career.

Mark reflects on how eventing has evolved, what separates great riders from the very best, and the incredible partnerships that make success possible at the highest level.

The episode also explores the emotional side of equestrian sport - from the heartbreak of losing beloved horses to the responsibility riders carry in always putting horse welfare first.

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Widely regarded as one of the greatest event riders of all time, Sir Mark Todd’s career is the stuff of legend. In part one of this deep dive, we explore the journey of a man who crossed generations, broke records, and redefined the sport of eventing. From his harrowing first international experience at the 1978 World Championships in Kentucky, to his Badminton breakthrough. How a "shaggy little pony" he almost didn't ride became his greatest partner, leading to back-to-back individual Olympic Gold medals and his uncanny ability to hop on a strange horse and win at the highest level just days later. There was so much to cover, part two will follow next week! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and join our Talk Horse community!

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It's Royal Ascot week! So who else to guide Pippa and Tristan through the glory and glamour of the occasion that ones of the most successful jockeys of his generation, Jim Crowley. Born in the shadow of Ascot racecourse, Jim shares his remarkable journey from pony racing, to massive success jump racing to making the bold and ultimately triumphant switch to the flat. Jim opens up about the relentless drive required to become Champion Jockey in 2016 and the intricate tactics and "racecraft" behind flat racing. His recovery from a life-threatening fall at York and his determination to get back in the saddle and the pressure of riding for racing’s biggest stars, including the legendary Baaeed.

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Jodie Hall McAteer has horses in her blood. Growing up in one of Britain's best-known showjumping families, she has gone from Pony European gold medallist to representing Great Britain on the world stage, becoming one of the country's most exciting young riders.

Now a regular competitor on the Global Champions Tour and Nations Cup teams, Jodie has represented Great Britain at some of the biggest shows in the world and ridden alongside many of the sport's biggest names.

In this episode, she joins Pippa and Tristan to discuss growing up in a horsey family, the reality of making a career in showjumping, and the sacrifices required to compete at the highest level. She also reflects on the horses that have shaped her career and the pressure of wearing the Team GB jacket.

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The only way we could get an interview with Carl Hester was by chasing him down in a miniature Land Rover. As podcast booking strategies go, it's surprisingly effective 😂

Olympic Champion Carl Hester joins Talk Horse for a special episode recorded at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest dressage riders of all time, Carl reflects on his extraordinary career, the setbacks he faced along the way, and why success doesn't always arrive on your own timeline.

From winning his first major medal in his 40s to becoming one of Britain's most celebrated equestrians, Carl shares the mindset that helped him stay motivated through decades of competition. Along the way, he offers honest advice on patience, resilience, dealing with pressure and what it really takes to achieve long-term success.

Recorded at Royal Windsor, this is a fascinating conversation with one of the sport's true greats. We can't wait to welcome Carl back to the Talk Horse studio for a full-length episode soon.

Follow Talk Horse for new episodes every Wednesday.

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